Brother of former Sen. Scott Brown appears in court

Bruce Browne ran away from reporters after his court appearance on Thursday.

Bruce Browne kept his back to the camera during his court appearance on Thursday.

Items seized from Bruce Browne by police.

NEW LONDON, CT (WFSB) -

The brother of a former United States senator, who allegedly commandeered boats on the shore and walked around armed at a popular beachfront community in camouflage, faced a judge Thursday as he tried to get his confiscated items back.

On Aug. 8, 46-year-old Bruce Browne, was wearing military-style clothing and was in possession of a gun, witnesses in the Point O' Woods community told police.

Witnesses took down his license plate number and called police. Browne was located at a picnic on Sea View Drive and arrested.

Earlier in the day, Browne, of Wolcott, apparently commandeered a boat saying he was a U.S. Coast Guard official and pulled other boaters over off the shore of Point O' Wood to check their registration, according to police.

When he was detained by police, investigators located three loaded 9mm handguns in Browne's vehicle in plain view. They also found a black nylon belt with two sets of handcuffs, 12 fully loaded magazines, an expandable baton and more than 200 rounds of ammunition.

In total, police seized 31 items, as well as Browne's 2004 Crowne Victoria.

Browne was charged with impersonating a police officer, breach of peace, interfering with a police officer and possession of a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle.

Police confirmed to Eyewitness News that Browne is the brother of former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. He held the United States Senate seat after Sen. Ted Kennedy died, and lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the last election.

On Thursday, Browne was arraigned at New London Superior Court. In court, Browne asked the judge to return all the items to him, but the prosecutor objected.

The judge told him that he could not be in possession of any firearms and could not wear any law enforcement items such as badges, symbols, a hat or anything that could be used to identify him as an officer. Browne is also not allowed near the Point O' Woods in Old Lyme.

Browne, who wore a baseball cap and dark sunglasses, was released Thursday on a $50,000 bond and his next court appearance is on Oct. 1.

If Browne violates any of the conditions of his release, Judge Karen Goodrow said she'll increase the bond.

Browne would not comment to the media, had his back to cameras during the arraignment and even ran from reporters after his appearance.